Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, has accused ECOWAS of inconsistency in its reaction to threats against democracy in West Africa, saying the bloc appears vocal when soldiers intervene but muted when elections are disrupted by technological failures.
Writing on X on Sunday, Obi said the events in Guinea-Bissau — where authorities reported a coup-related interruption after a peaceful election — raised questions about the regional body’s approach to safeguarding democratic processes. He cited observations by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, who monitored the election and noted irregularities in the official announcement of a coup by the country’s own president.
Obi argued that ECOWAS’ rapid condemnation of the Guinea-Bissau disruption contrasts sharply with its silence when electoral processes elsewhere are interrupted by “glitches” at decisive moments.
“Do we only condemn coups that appear with guns and ignore those carried out through convenient technological breakdowns?” he asked.
He warned that technical interference can be just as harmful as military intervention, insisting both forms erode public trust, obstruct the electorate’s will and weaken democratic institutions.
Obi maintained that genuine democracy is built on transparency, accountability and respect for citizens’ choices — principles he said are threatened when results are delayed or distorted by unexplained system failures.
He urged ECOWAS to adopt a consistent and proactive stance on all forms of electoral manipulation, arguing that West Africa’s stability depends on credible polls and institutions that protect voters’ rights.
“The Guinea-Bissau incidents reflect two dimensions of the same democratic crisis,” he said. “Whether votes are blocked by force or by technical sabotage, the outcome is identical: the people are denied their mandate.”
